The Genius of Buddy Griffith – A Look at Comedy in the 80′s

I’ve been on an 80′s comedy kick as of late. Though I tuned in for the mindless entertainment, I walked away with a new appreciation for the era in cinema and came to the conclusion that comedy films from the 1980′s had more heart than any other decade. There was a naive and brutally honest wisdom aching to be shared with its audience, which brings me to Buddy Griffith.

Buddy Griffith is the horny younger brother of Terry from the 1985 film, “Just One of the Guys“.

Get a good look. This is the face of a man's brain.

Buddy owns some of the greatest quotes ever committed to celluloid, such as “All balls itch. It’s a fact!”. More brilliantly, you could not write the inner workings of the human male mind more accurately if you tried.The walls in Buddy’s room are plastered with images of nude women, he tries to procreate with every female he encounters, and has an unrivaled affection for his own balls.

Basically, Buddy is the unfiltered thought process of every man that ever has or ever will live. There is no malice or animosity in his ways. He doesn’t intentionally objectify women, nor does he lack respect for their intelligence or abilities (he is the only character that believes in Terry’s potential as a journalist). He is simply naive and innocent, totally oblivious to the fact that not every single woman he meets is as desperate for sex as he is.

From the 90′s on, you simply couldn’t write a character like that into a film without demonizing him in some way. Because to do otherwise would be “condoning” his insensitivity. And as we all know, the 90′s ushered in a general angst and “You should know better” mentality that still lingers on to this day. But this hyper-sensitivity we have adopted as a culture has no place in entertainment to the degree that it exists today. Particularly in comedy. Buddy Griffith may be a sex-crazed pervert, but that doesn’t mean he hates women. To the contrary, he loves women.

Another staple in this and other 80′s coming-of-age comedies is the presence of gay jokes and use of the word “fag”, but that doesn’t mean that homosexuality wasn’t tolerated, (keep in mind, this is a film about a girl that turns to cross-dressing in order to get an inside look at the male of the species). Before it is revealed that Terry is actually a girl, she kisses a guy in front of her new best (male) friend. When Terry tells him that she has a confession to make, without batting an eye he says “I know. You’re gay. It’s cool.” One of the sweetest, simplest, and least contrived acceptance of homosexuality ever put to film.

Then Terry shows her tits.

The simple truth is that it is stabbing at most straight men (especially teenagers) to be called homosexual. Not because there is anything wrong with it, but because we are always striving to be macho (and never feel like we are doing it right). Telling us that we have vaginas, take it up the butt, or play with other dude’s dongs is an easy way to take a bit of wind out of our manly sails. I realize that there are masculine homosexuals and effeminate straight men, but there are also nice female dogs. Yet few women appreciate being called a “bitch”.

Another refreshing presence in this film and many other 80′s comedies is the presence of the horny female. Instead of being portrayed as an ignorant, raging slut or angry feminist that has multiple sexual partners just to prove that her female strength has freed her from the urge to be in any meaningful relationship with a man, the sexually active female in this era of comedy was just a girl… That enjoyed sex. Imagine that.

I only decided to explore Buddy Griffith’s plight because of how pronounced it is. Never has there been a more accurate depiction of what modern men with tact are actually thinking than Buddy. You know that male friend of yours that’s always been there for you and does everything you ask? He wants to fuck you. What about that guy that held the door open for you at Macy’s after his kids walked out? He wants to fuck you. The guy that let you squeeze in front of him on the highway in rush hour traffic? You get the picture…

Keep in mind, this isn’t some kind of predatory warning. Even at our best, this is just how men are wired. Yes, we like you; Yes, we respect you for your mind and talent; Yes, you have an amazing personality; and Yes, we want to get in your pants.

We are Buddy Griffith.